'The White Man's Burden' by Rudyard Kipling
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Take up the White man's burden --
Send forth the best ye breed --
Go bind your sons to exile
To serve your captives' need;
To wait in heavy harness
On fluttered folk and wild --
Your new-caught, sullen peoples,
Half devil and half child.
Take up the White Man's burden --
In patience to abide,
To veil the threat of terror
And check the show of pride;
By open speech and simple,
An hundred times mad plain.
To seek another's profit,
And work another's gain.
Take up the White Man's burden --
The savage wars of peace --
Fill full the mouth of Famine
And bid the sickness cease;
And when your goal is nearest
The end for others sought,
Watch Sloth and heathen Folly
Bring all your hope to nought.
Take up the White Man's burden --
No tawdry rule of kings,
But toil of serf and sweeper --
The tale of common things.
The ports ye shall not enter,
The roads ye shall not tread,
Go make them with your living,
And mark them with your dead!
Take up the White man's burden --
And reap his old reward:
The blame of those ye better,
The hate of those ye guard --
The cry of hosts ye humour
(Ah, slowly!) toward the light: --
"Why brought ye us from bondage,
"Our loved Egyptian night?"
Take up the White Man's burden --
Ye dare not stoop to less --
Nor call too loud on freedom
To cloak your weariness;
By all ye cry or whisper,
By all ye leave or do,
The silent, sullen peoples
Shall weigh your Gods and you.
Take up the White Man's burden --
Have done with childish days --
The lightly proffered laurel,
The easy, ungrudged praise.
Comes now, to search your manhood
Through all the thankless years,
Cold-edged with dear-bought wisdom,
The judgment of your peers!
Editor 1 Interpretation
The White Man's Burden by Rudyard Kipling: Literary Criticism and Interpretation
The White Man's Burden is a poem by Rudyard Kipling that was published in 1899. The poem was written in response to the Spanish-American War and the subsequent annexation of the Philippines by the United States. Kipling's poem expresses the idea that it is the duty of the white man to civilize and educate the "uncivilized" peoples of the world.
The title of the poem, "The White Man's Burden," is derived from a phrase used by British poet Alfred Lord Tennyson in his poem, "Locksley Hall." The phrase had become a popular expression used to justify imperialism and colonialism. In his poem, Kipling takes the phrase and expands on it, urging the white man to take up the burden of empire and to bring civilization to the rest of the world.
Structure
The poem is structured as a series of eight quatrains, each with an ABAB rhyme scheme. The first two quatrains introduce the idea of the white man's burden, while the following six quatrains present a series of arguments for why the white man must take up this burden.
The poem opens with the lines, "Take up the White Man's burden / Send forth the best ye breed." Here, Kipling is addressing the white, Anglo-Saxon race, urging them to take up the burden of empire. The use of the word "burden" is significant, as it implies a sense of obligation and responsibility.
The second quatrain further emphasizes this idea, stating that the white man must "bind your sons to exile / to serve your captives' need." Here, Kipling is suggesting that the white man must send their sons to foreign lands to serve the needs of the "captives," or the people they have colonized.
The next six quatrains present a series of arguments for why the white man must take up this burden. The first argument is that the people they are colonizing are "half-devil and half-child." Kipling suggests that these people are not capable of governing themselves and that it is the duty of the white man to educate and civilize them.
The second argument is that the people they are colonizing are "sullen peoples, half-known." Kipling suggests that these people are unfamiliar and mysterious to the white man, and that it is their duty to learn about these people and to bring civilization to them.
The third argument is that the people they are colonizing are "new-caught, sullen peoples, / Half-devil and half-child." Kipling is suggesting that these people have recently been "caught" by the white man and are therefore not yet fully civilized. It is the duty of the white man to educate and civilize them.
The fourth argument is that the people they are colonizing are "wild, wandering, / Wastes of swamp and fen." Kipling suggests that these people live in primitive and uncivilized environments and that it is the duty of the white man to bring civilization to them.
The fifth argument is that the people they are colonizing are "newly-companioned sullen peoples, / Half-devil and half-child." Kipling suggests that these people are not yet accustomed to living with the white man and that it is the duty of the white man to educate them and to help them adapt to their new way of life.
The final argument is that the white man must take up this burden because it is their duty to do so. Kipling suggests that the white man has been chosen by God to bring civilization to the rest of the world and that it is their responsibility to do so.
Interpretation
The White Man's Burden has been the subject of much controversy and criticism over the years. Some have accused Kipling of promoting imperialism and colonialism, while others have defended the poem as a call for social justice and humanitarianism.
One interpretation of the poem is that Kipling is promoting the idea of the "civilizing mission." This was a common idea during the era of imperialism, which held that it was the duty of the white man to bring civilization and progress to the "uncivilized" peoples of the world. Kipling's poem can be seen as an expression of this idea, urging the white man to take up the burden of empire and to bring civilization to the rest of the world.
Another interpretation of the poem is that Kipling is expressing a sense of guilt or responsibility. The phrase "white man's burden" implies that the burden is something that must be taken up, rather than something that is freely chosen. Kipling may be suggesting that the white man has a duty to help those who are less fortunate and that this duty is not something that can be ignored.
Yet another interpretation of the poem is that Kipling is being sarcastic or satirical. The poem can be read as a criticism of imperialism and colonialism, with Kipling using irony to point out the hypocrisy and cruelty of these practices. The phrase "white man's burden" can be seen as a sardonic commentary on the idea of the white man as a benevolent and enlightened ruler.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The White Man's Burden is a complex and provocative poem that has been the subject of much debate and interpretation. It can be read as a call to action, a statement of guilt or responsibility, or a satirical critique of imperialism and colonialism. Whatever interpretation one chooses, the poem remains a powerful and thought-provoking work that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The White Man's Burden: An Analysis of Rudyard Kipling's Classic Poem
Rudyard Kipling's poem "The White Man's Burden" is a classic piece of literature that has been widely discussed and debated over the years. Written in 1899, the poem was originally published in McClure's Magazine and was intended to encourage the United States to take up the "burden" of empire-building and civilizing the "uncivilized" peoples of the world. In this analysis, we will explore the themes and messages of the poem, as well as its historical context and its relevance to contemporary issues.
The poem begins with the line "Take up the White Man's burden," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The phrase "White Man's burden" refers to the idea that it is the duty of white people to civilize and educate the non-white peoples of the world. This concept was popularized in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by European colonial powers, who used it to justify their imperialist policies and the exploitation of colonized peoples.
Kipling's poem is addressed to the United States, which had recently acquired the Philippines from Spain as a result of the Spanish-American War. The poem urges the United States to take on the responsibility of governing and educating the Filipino people, who are portrayed as ignorant and in need of guidance. Kipling writes, "Your new-caught sullen peoples, / Half devil and half child, / Take up the White Man's burden / In patience to abide, / To veil the threat of terror / And check the show of pride."
The language used in the poem is highly paternalistic and condescending, with the "sullen peoples" of the Philippines portrayed as childlike and in need of the guidance of their white rulers. The poem also suggests that the Filipinos are a threat to the white man's civilization, with the line "Your new-caught sullen peoples...to veil the threat of terror." This language reflects the racist attitudes of the time, which saw non-white peoples as inferior and in need of the guidance of their white superiors.
The poem goes on to describe the difficulties and challenges of governing a foreign people, with lines such as "And when your goal is nearest / The end for others sought, / Watch sloth and heathen Folly / Bring all your hopes to nought." Kipling suggests that the task of governing the Philippines will be difficult and that the Filipinos will resist the efforts of their white rulers. However, he also suggests that it is the duty of the white man to persevere in this task, even in the face of adversity.
The poem ends with the lines "Take up the White Man's burden, / And reap his old reward: / The blame of those ye better, / The hate of those ye guard." These lines suggest that the white man's burden is a thankless task, one that will bring criticism and hatred from those who are being "civilized." However, Kipling suggests that this is a necessary sacrifice for the greater good of civilization and progress.
The historical context of the poem is important to understanding its themes and messages. At the time the poem was written, European colonial powers were engaged in a race for empire-building and the exploitation of colonized peoples. The United States had recently joined this race with its acquisition of the Philippines, and Kipling's poem was intended to encourage the United States to take on the responsibilities of empire-building and civilizing the "uncivilized" peoples of the world.
However, the poem has been widely criticized for its racist and paternalistic attitudes towards non-white peoples. The idea of the "White Man's burden" has been used to justify colonialism and imperialism, and has been used to justify the exploitation and oppression of non-white peoples. The language used in the poem reflects the racist attitudes of the time, and the poem has been seen as a reflection of the imperialist mindset that dominated the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In contemporary times, the poem has been used as a symbol of the legacy of colonialism and imperialism. The idea of the "White Man's burden" has been criticized for its paternalistic and condescending attitudes towards non-white peoples, and has been seen as a justification for the exploitation and oppression of colonized peoples. The poem has been used to highlight the ongoing struggles of post-colonial societies, and the legacy of colonialism and imperialism in shaping the world we live in today.
In conclusion, Rudyard Kipling's poem "The White Man's Burden" is a classic piece of literature that reflects the imperialist mindset of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The poem is highly paternalistic and condescending towards non-white peoples, and reflects the racist attitudes of the time. However, the poem has also been used as a symbol of the legacy of colonialism and imperialism, and has been used to highlight the ongoing struggles of post-colonial societies. The poem remains a powerful reminder of the dangers of imperialism and the importance of respecting the dignity and autonomy of all peoples.
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